A facile win for Tipperary in this Munster MHC semi-final in Semple Stadium last night, a resounding win over a Waterford team that had been beaten in the last two Munster finals and were this year fancied in some quarters to go all the way. In front of 3,126 spectators, Tipp got off to a flying start and led by six points just 10 minutes (1-4 to 0-1), late call-up Sean Ryan with the goal after great setup work by midfielder and captain Bill Maher.

Everywhere Tipp were dominant, full-back Michael Breen in magnificent form, Thomas Hamill outside him also dominant, with Ronan Maher and Dylan Fitzelle in control down the right flank, Jack Peters and Barry Heffernan similarly in charge down the left. In midfield, Maher and the flying Tadhg Gallagher ruled the roost, while in attack, they were a scoring threat in every position bar one, centre-forward Jack Shelly doing a Bonner Maher impression and doing the donkey work for all those around him. It was looking bad for Waterford as the first half progressed. It would have been a lot worse but for two brave body-blocks within a minute by keeper Sean Barry from first Sean Ryan (18th minute) then full-forward Mark McCarthy. Waterford then slowly began to work themselves into the game.

Tactically they had withdrawn an attacker, wing-forward Micheal Harney dropping back in front of the half-back line, thus cutting down the danger presented by the Tipp raiders from midfield, and in the final 10 minutes of the half it began to pay dividends, three points on the trot (two from the talented Stephen Bennett, one from sweet-striking Austin Gleeson), in reply to a lovely point from John McGrath, had the deficit back to a very manageable four at the break, 1-8 to 0-7.

There was even reason for the Déise supporters to believe that this could yet be their evening. It wasn’t to be. Within a minute Tipperary had extended their advantage to five points, a McCarthy free; within another minute that lead had become 1-5, a brilliant team goal that began with a Hamill clearance, caught by Shelly who fed McGrath, gave to overlapping Gallagher, who fired a net-buster from close range that gave Sean Barry no chance. By the 36th minute, Waterford were facing a mountain, 2-12 to 0-7 behind, by the 37th minute it had become an Everest, 2-18 to 0-9. A landslide, that was the second half, Waterford buried under a succession of Tipperary scores, one better than the next. 1-17 Tipperary scored in that 30-minute second half, to just 0-5 for Waterford. !

Waterford have made four changes with David O’Brien drafted in at right half-back, Colin Dunford at midfield, Austin Gleeson at centre-forward and Brendan Phelan at full-forward. Cian Leamy, Conor Sheehan, Adam O’Sullivan and Cathal Curran are the four players to lose out.

The Tipperary minor hurling team to play Waterford in the Munster semi-final at Semple Stadium on Wednesday evening shows 4 changes from the team which defeated Kerry in the first round. Barry Heffernan, Tadhg Gallagher, Steven O’Brien and Sean Ryan come into the team instead of Luke Mullally, Tom Kirwan, Sean Nally and Kevin Slattery. The team is –

1. Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy)

2. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)

3. Michael Breen (Ballina)

4. Jack Peters (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

5. Dylan Fitzelle (Cashel King Cormacs)

6. Thomas Hamill (Killea)

7. Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg)

8. Bill Maher (Kilsheelan Kilcash) CAPTAIN

9. Tadhg Gallagher (Kildangan)

10. John McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)

11. Jack Shelly (Mullinahone)

12. Steven O’Brien (Ballina)

13. Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields)

14. Mark McCarthy (Toomevara)

15. Sean Ryan (Sean Treacys)

For the Record

Tipperary

Waterford

2011 Championship Performance

Lost to Waterford in the first round. Defeated Cork in the semi-final 2nd playoff before losing to Clare by 3-13 to 1-13 in the Munster Semi-Final at Semple Stadium Thurles.

Defeated Tipperary and Limerick before losing to Clare in the Munster Final.

Number of Munster Minor Hurling titles

36

4

Last Munster Minor Hurling Title

2007

2009

Munster Minor Hurling Championship Record since 2000

Played – 37
Won – 24
Lost – 10
Drawn – 3

Played – 30
Won – 11
Lost – 16
Drawn – 3

Last meeting in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship

April 27th 2011 at Walsh Park Waterford – Waterford 2-16 Tipperary 1-13 – Goals by Cein Chester and Michéal Harney helped by 10 Jake Dillon points ensured Waterford had six points to spare of Tipperary in this first round clash.

MUNSTER GAA HURLING MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2012

First Round

Wednesday May 2nd

@ Cusack Park Ennis Waterford 1-20 Clare 3-13

@ Pairc Ui Chaoimh Limerick 0-16 Cork 1-12

@ Semple Stadium Thurles Tipperary 6-21 Kerry 0-11

Semi-Final Play-off 1

Saturday May 5th

@ Austin Stack Park Tralee Cork 6-22 Kerry 1-4

Semi-Final Play-off 2

Thursday May 10th

@ Cusack Park Ennis Clare 0-18 Cork 1-9

Semi-Finals

Wednesday June 27th

@ Semple Stadium Thurles Tipperary v Waterford @ 7:30pm

Friday June 29th

@ Cusack Park Ennis Limerick v Clare @ 7:30pm

Final

Sunday July 15th

Munster Minor Hurling Championship – Useful Information

In the last 3 seasons, neither Clare or Waterford have lost any matches to Cork, Tipperary, Limerick or Kerry – their only defeats coming in direct clashes against each other.

Clare are the defending Munster Minor Hurling Champions following a 1-20 to 3-9 victory over Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Waterford have lost just 2 of their last 11 matches in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship, both losses coming to Clare in the 2010 and 2011 Munster Finals.

Tipperary’s last victory over Waterford in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship came on April 9th 2003 courtesy of a 1-9 to 0-10 win at Semple Stadium Thurles. Richie Ruth of Thurles Sarsfields scored 1-4 from play to prove the difference between the sides. Richie now a member of the 2012 Tipperary Intermediate Hurling panel.

There is no name on the Munster Minor Hurling Cup. The cup itself was presented by T.W.A. Shannon Airport in 1946.

All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship

In the Minor Hurling All Ireland Roll of Honour, Tipperary and Cork are tied for second in the charts with 18 titles each behind Kilkenny’s 20 titles. Limerick have 3 titles (1940, 1958, 1984), Waterford have won 2 titles (1929, 1948) while Clare’s only title to date came in 1997.

Of the last 13 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Finals played, the Irish Press Cup has only returned to Munster on 3 occasions – Cork (2001) and Tipperary (2006 and 2007). Of the other 10 titles since 1999, Galway have 6 and Kilkenny have captured 4.